Tense Hours for Iran and the Middle East Following Reports of Imminent Attack and Cancellation of Tehran Flights

Observers of developments in Iran and the Middle East reported in a recent report tense hours following an imminent attack on Israel and the cancellation of Tehran flights.

An aerial attack last week on Iran’s consulate building in Damascus and the killing of 7 members of the Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guards prompted Iranian officials and Hezbollah in Lebanon to speak over the past week of punishing Israel and responding to the aforementioned aerial attack.

Bloomberg reported on the night of Wednesday, April 10, citing informed sources that the United States and its allies believe an Iranian missile and drone attack on targets in Israel is imminent, and this attack may be carried out from within Iranian territory or by groups supported by Tehran in the region. The probable targets of this attack have been identified as the Israeli army and government centers.

Exactly in line with Bloomberg’s report, the airline “Lufthansa,” which conducted at least one daily flight from Frankfurt to Tehran and then from Tehran to Frankfurt, announced the cancellation of its flights to and from Imam Khomeini Airport in Tehran due to the current situation in the Middle East.

According to reports published just after midnight by the Mehr News Agency citing Iran’s Ministry of Defense, Iranian airspace has been closed due to military exercises, though this report was later denied and the news was removed. A detailed review of flight information from Imam Khomeini Airport shows that flights by airlines “Turkish Airlines,” “FlyDubai,” “Pegasus,” “Aeroflot,” and “Qatar Airways” have been conducted.

According to reports from radio station “Galei Tzahal” in Israel, the Israeli Air Force conducted joint exercises with the Cyprus Air Force. According to these reports, the Israeli army announced that during joint exercises with the Cyprus Air Force, it practiced attacks on mobile targets and long-range strikes. According to statements by one of the Galei Tzahal radio correspondents, these exercises were designed to simulate an attack on Iran.

CENTCOM, the Central Command of the United States, also reported hours earlier the downing of 11 drones of Houthi forces in Yemen. This news was released at a time when speculation about a possible Iranian attack or attacks by Tehran-backed groups on Israel has increased. Yemeni Houthis have also claimed to have targeted Israeli and American ships in the Gulf of Aden.

Al Jazeera also reported, citing an American official, that Washington does not rule out cooperation with Israel to respond to a possible military attack by Iran. The American official stated: “We do not rule out joint attacks with Israel in the event that this country is attacked by Iran or its affiliates.”

U.S. President Joe Biden also stated that in the event of an Iranian attack, American support for Israel will be “iron-clad.”

According to reports from the Axios news website, General Michael Eric Kurilla, commander of CENTCOM and one of the senior commanders of the United States military responsible for Middle Eastern affairs among American commanders, is traveling to Israel today, Thursday, April 11. This trip is aimed at coordinating regarding a possible Iranian attack on targets in Israel.